Table 2 Perception of safety and efficacy of herbal medicine and Western medicine (particularly pharmaceuticals) during pregnancy

Safety of herbal medicine

χ ²

df

Exact p-value

Most Western medicine not safe for me (mother) during pregnancy

15

10.6

85

85.7

0

3.8

2.122

2

0.358

Most Western medicine not safe for my baby during pregnancy

15.0

10.2

85

86

0

3.8

2.244

2

0.314

Most herbal medicine is not safe for me during pregnancy

27.5

65.2

42.5

5.5

30

29.3

56.315

2

< 0.001

Most herbal medicine is not safe for my baby during pregnancy

27.5

64.5

42.5

4.8

30

29.7

54.449

2

< 0.001

Most herbal medicine is natural

77.5

26.3

12.5

45.7

10

28

42.191

2

< 0.001

Most herbal medicine is safe

71.8

20.8

10.3

45.7

17.9

33.4

46.400

2

< 0.001

Efficacy of herbal medicine

Herbals beneficial if recommended by doctor

92.3

51.8

2.5

21.8

5.1

26.2

22.491

2

< 0.001

Herbals beneficial if recommended by herbalist

46.1

14.6

38.4

57.3

15.3

27.9

22.849

2

< 0.001

Herbals beneficial if recommended by family/relative

69.2

17

12.8

55.3

17.9

27.6

53.947

2

< 0.001

There are illnesses or conditions for which herbal medicine is more effective than Western medicine

89.7

27.3

5.1

49.1

5.1

23.5

59.367

2

< 0.001

There are illnesses or conditions for which Western medicine is more effective than herbal medicine

97.4

87

2.6

2

0

10.9

4.725

2

0.079